BEIRUT - The huge explosion in Lebanon's capital of Beirut tore through major grain silos, stoking fears of shortages in a nation that imports nearly all its food and is already reeling from economic crisis.
"The damage is massive at the port and it will take a very long time to fix and build," Public Works Minister Michel Najjar told local television. "The amount of flour in the market and on its way to Lebanon covers the market's needs for a long period and therefore there's no flour or bread crisis," said Raoul Nehme, the economy and trade minister.Lebanon relies on privately-owned mills to ship wheat from Ukraine, Russia and other European countries.